Trump 'not happy' with U.S. health secretary embroiled in travel expense controversy

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday he's "not happy" with his top health official, after Health Secretary Tom Price's government-paid travel on costly charter flights triggered a wide-ranging congressional investigation of the administration.

Asked whether he's planning on firing Price, Trump responded: "We'll see."

A Republican former congressman from Georgia, Price played a supporting role in the fruitless Republican effort to repeal Barack Obama's health care law, which has been another source of frustration for the president. Price is known as a conservative policy expert, but his penchant for taking private charter aircraft on the taxpayer's dime is creating new headaches for the White House. 

Late in the day, Price's office said he's heard the criticism and has taken it to heart. There was no indication he'd be stepping down.

• Divided, testy U.S. Senate narrowly confirms Tom Price

Prompted partly by controversy over Price, the House oversight and government reform committee on Wednesday sent requests for detailed travel records to the White House and 24 departments and agencies, dating back to Trump's first day in office.

The letters were signed by the committee's chairman, Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy, of Sourth Carolina, and its ranking Democrat, Elijah Cummings of Maryland. Lawmakers are demanding information on political appointees' use of government planes for personal travel, as well as their use of private charters for official travel. The committee wants details by Oct. 10.

'He's heard the criticism'

The president vented his displeasure with Price to reporters as he left the White House for a trip to sell his tax overhaul in Indianapolis. 

"I was looking into it, and I will look into it, and I will tell you personally I'm not happy about it," Trump responded when asked about Price's travel. "I am not happy about it. I'm going to look at it. I'm not happy about it and I let him know it." 

Wednesday evening, the Health and Human Services Department released a statement. 

"As the secretary said over the weekend, he's heard the criticism and the concerns," spokesperson Caitlin Oakley said. "He takes that very seriously and has taken it to heart."  

Price's travels were first reported by Politico, which said it has identified 26 charter flights at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, in many cases where cheaper commercial flights were a viable option. On a June trip to Nashville, Price also had lunch with his son, who lives in that city, according to Politico.

Inspector general reviewing flights

The HHS inspector general's office began a review last week to determine if Price complied with federal travel regulations, which generally require officials to minimize costs.

Price's office said the secretary's demanding schedule sometimes does not permit the use of commercial airline flights.

Previously Price's office had said it's co-operating with the inspector general's review, and he will stop flying on charters until that investigation is complete. 

At least five House Democrats have called on Price to resign. Republicans, however, largely remained mum.

Price, an ally of House Speaker Paul Ryan, is a past chairman of the House budget committee, where he was known as a frequent critic of wasteful spending. As HHS secretary, he has questioned whether the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income people delivers results that are worth the billions of dollars taxpayers spend for the coverage.

Mnuchin also under scrutiny

Other members of the cabinet contacted by The Associated Press last week said they personally foot the bill for chartered travel or reimburse taxpayers the difference between commercial and chartered travel. The exceptions are when they are travelling with the president or vice-president, who fly aboard government planes.

Another top official, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, is facing scrutiny over his use of a government plane to fly to Kentucky for a visit to Louisville and Fort Knox in Kentucky.

Mnuchin and his wife viewed the solar eclipse during the trip.

Trump has publicly expressed displeasure with an official before, in one of his breaks from past behaviour by presidents.

Back in August, the president was asked if he still had confidence in Steve Bannon, then a senior strategist. "He's a good person. He actually gets very unfair press in that regard. But we'll see what happens with Mr. Bannon," Trump said.

Bannon was out three days later.

But Trump had also blasted Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his recusal from investigations related to possible Russian meddling into the 2016 election, but said on July 25, "we'll see what happens" with respect to Sessions's future.

Sessions remains on the job and has vowed to prosecute those who leak classified information to the press, a pet peeve of Trump's.